Timmy the paralyzed dog
Timmy came to us from a Denver vet clinic, which had been trying to find a home for this dog for many months. The clinic told us Timmy had cerebellar hypoplasia and was very much like our dog Allie who has the “wobbles.”
We had told the clinic that we couldn't take a dog who was paralyzed because the level of care required was simply too much when you're caring for as many other disabled animals as we do. So we wanted to verify that Timmy really was like Allie and could get around on his own. They assured us that Timmy wasn't “a paralyzed dog because he can move all four legs....”
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Thus we were very surprised when Timmy arrived and we found ourselves with a paralyzed dog. Yes, Timmy can move all four legs, but only when he's lying down. He can't stand up at all.
We set out to do the very best we could for him, and Timmy quickly worked his way into our hearts. Timmy is a very happy boy who loves being in the center of things. He likes to lay on his cot on the porch at Widget's House and hang out with the other disabled dogs as they mill around. Sometimes he looks like a coach on the sidelines, trying to bring order out of chaos on the field.
Now that the snow is gone, Timmy uses a wheelchair, allowing him to interact with the other dogs. Although he can't stay in his chair very long before tiring, it does give him a sense of independence and genuine mobility.
He is crazy about his Kongs, and loves nothing more than playing with these rubber toys. So when he's not on the porch surveying the scene, or wheeling about in the dog paddock, he's on his bed indoors, chewing on a Kong!
